Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Barbecuing a Sacred Cow!
After spending so many years of gathering ideas, theories, and facts, I find that as I get chronologically older, I spend more time discarding some of the fruitless items I've clung to and boiling it all down to some truths that continue to stick no matter the circumstance or incident.
As a youngster in faith many years ago, I was taught that if I believed correctly, then life would flow with special blessings and I would reap the harvest of the good in the world as a result. I haven't always found this to be true as I look back on the years I've travelled since.
As I read the great "Faith" chapter of Hebrews 11, I see that many blessings did flow to those mentioned in the first 35 verses. But from the 36th verse on, there have been many faithful who did not receive the same in return as those mentioned earlier. Tis true that the promises not yet seen by all of them are available in the long run, but some were sawn in half, wandered in the deserts, stoned to death, imprisoned and scourged, slain by the sword, destitute, afflicted, and tormented for their faith.
Grace was provided to all even though each of their trials were different in form. God also provided something better for all of them in the end.
So, I have to burn up the sacred cow taught to me that when God's in His Heaven, all is right with the world. Those brave believers mentioned in the 36th verse on certainly didn't find an alright world for themselves as they went into death and abandonment for their faith.
From the ashes of my barbecuing of this sacred cow, I do see that what is more important throughout it all is the maintaining of a strong faith in God's promises whether life is good or evil in actual experience.
It really emphasizes the statement made by Jesus that the world hates Him. That's one truth that remains true no matter how many times one turns it over on the barbecue spit and tries to burn it into oblivion.
Although many of us in the Western Hemisphere enjoy the ease of going to Sunday service decked out in our Sunday best or go to our coffeehouse meeting in casual dress to discuss God's blessings, there are many in other parts of the world who are being sought out and slain for their same faith in God's blessings.
Some of us live in comfort while others are going through "tribulation" for the same promise to us in the end.
As I carry the carcass of my burnt sacred cow to its final resting place, I pray for those who are still going through the kinds of horrors that the 36th and 37th verses of Hebrews 11 tell us of how it will be for some of us who turn to God for Truth.
On a perspective scale, I'm fortunate compared to those dying for their present faith. Although I rant and rail at times about how difficult life is for me, God has blessed me more than I realize.
May the Lord continue to "grill" me in His ways!
As a youngster in faith many years ago, I was taught that if I believed correctly, then life would flow with special blessings and I would reap the harvest of the good in the world as a result. I haven't always found this to be true as I look back on the years I've travelled since.
As I read the great "Faith" chapter of Hebrews 11, I see that many blessings did flow to those mentioned in the first 35 verses. But from the 36th verse on, there have been many faithful who did not receive the same in return as those mentioned earlier. Tis true that the promises not yet seen by all of them are available in the long run, but some were sawn in half, wandered in the deserts, stoned to death, imprisoned and scourged, slain by the sword, destitute, afflicted, and tormented for their faith.
Grace was provided to all even though each of their trials were different in form. God also provided something better for all of them in the end.
So, I have to burn up the sacred cow taught to me that when God's in His Heaven, all is right with the world. Those brave believers mentioned in the 36th verse on certainly didn't find an alright world for themselves as they went into death and abandonment for their faith.
From the ashes of my barbecuing of this sacred cow, I do see that what is more important throughout it all is the maintaining of a strong faith in God's promises whether life is good or evil in actual experience.
It really emphasizes the statement made by Jesus that the world hates Him. That's one truth that remains true no matter how many times one turns it over on the barbecue spit and tries to burn it into oblivion.
Although many of us in the Western Hemisphere enjoy the ease of going to Sunday service decked out in our Sunday best or go to our coffeehouse meeting in casual dress to discuss God's blessings, there are many in other parts of the world who are being sought out and slain for their same faith in God's blessings.
Some of us live in comfort while others are going through "tribulation" for the same promise to us in the end.
As I carry the carcass of my burnt sacred cow to its final resting place, I pray for those who are still going through the kinds of horrors that the 36th and 37th verses of Hebrews 11 tell us of how it will be for some of us who turn to God for Truth.
On a perspective scale, I'm fortunate compared to those dying for their present faith. Although I rant and rail at times about how difficult life is for me, God has blessed me more than I realize.
May the Lord continue to "grill" me in His ways!
